Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo Shell Pack Review

[@Creepinmpd]

Just bought this a couple weeks ago, and finally played it on stage last night. I was a little nervous about switching to Tama since I've always been a Pearl guy, but after last night's gig....I'm sold! This is a great kit and it sounds awesome! Combined this with Tama's Star Combo stands, and you have so much ability to adjust everything! Awesome kit!

[@andycohen3384]

Thanks bro. I just bought this drum set today after debate between the hyperdrive and the Pearl. I hope I love them

[@coldrolled1]

Just bought them as well and am waiting for about 6 months to get them!! Glad to hear you love them! I saw a good comparison between those and several other full bodied tom kits (traditional) and even the drummer said as the recording also showed - there was very little difference if even noticeable at all between the 2. The Hyperdrives sound fantastic - remember your getting a 6 ply MAPLE shell - just slightly shortened.

[@cDisturbed.]

I’m a pearl guy too and really tempted by this… this or the pearl decade🤣

[@Grit489]

Tama continues to be the most innovative leader in drum manufacturing.

[@andyham6094]

This kit sounds and looks so amazing. Tama at it again thinking outside the box and actually making a shell pack with this duo idea. I have a 5 piece 2017 tama starclassic BB hyperdrive with the updated hardware brought down from the flagship star drums so no need for me to get this kit but it is a great bang for your buck. I also have a tama silverstar as my backup gigging kit which is also a great kit and only paid 400 for it and it’s built like a tank and great mounting system for the price. Can’t beat tama.

[@danwebd4481]

I started out with Pearl Export, now after a 20 year break started again with Tama Imperialstar Blacked Out Black, great drum and great hardware.

[@MaxwellVideos]

Only watch these cus of my boi N I C K

[@dariojr14]

That floor tom/snare drum is soo cool !

[@ftfkenny]

Another great review Nick! I always find your videos extremely informative!

[@hmanh2135]

Great drummer and Great drumkit. Your videos are the best quality but it also helps that the drummer actually knows his stuff and is well skilled.

[@ajchandler5932]

Cool to see Sput having so much influence on the drum world. I am seriously considering this kit..

[@thedudeabides1881]

I'm a Gretsch guy but holy manloly, this kit is awesome. So versatile and sounds great. I'm loving the 14+12 floor Tom/snare. I've gotta give this kit a live going over it just might be my new best friend.

[@joestarr05]

It's 10 inches deep not 12.

[@miguelp.7602]

This guy keeps getting better at the drums every video I watch! Right on!

[@alexanderjamieson7971]

Just ordered an all new drum kit, including this shell pack, from Sweetwater. Probably wouldn't have even considered this website if I didn't come across NDV videos.

[@albertcalor]

Great sounding kit it looks great and i like the fact that you have that 14" tom/snare option

[@dud3man6969]

I bought one of the all birch hyperdrive kits back in 2011.In tobacco burst the were gorgeous and they sounded amazing. I wish they would start making those again.

[@fujitattooz5127]

i currently have one in black. i am about to throw evans hydraulics on it as i play mostly rock on my kit , have you ever used evans hydraulics on yours ? fighting to get the sound i want out of this kit but i love it

[@felix-antoine55]

Meinl, Tama, Evans ! Perfect trio!

[@marchiesmusic]

Evans is trash bro.

[@felix-antoine55]

Marcello Granata All in life are personal choice

[@paradigmshiftz7]

Personal choice but definitely not perfect. If I had to use Tama, I'd go with Tama, Zildjian and Remo.

[@viktor7m]

I think Kenny Aronoff has only brass signature snares. Excellent review, as always. I would like to hear DUO floor/snare with clear drumhead.

[@thedudeabides1881]

That primary snare sound brings me back to The Smashing Pumpkins. Jimmy Chamberlain's snare drum sound from their first album Gish. Which premiered on the Rusty's Surfing video called"No thrills for the cautious". Especially the track called "I am One". If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. Jimmy's chops are jaw dropping. And we were talking about album that came out in 1990.

[@TC-lk2ev]

Gish is awesome. Such a solid album and Jimmy is flawless at everything basically.

[@MDP666]

My all time favourite drummer and the snare sound on Gish is also my all time favourite.

[@hiptoalieu]

GREAT Drumset! just personal preference but usually when I have a PHAT THUDDY snare, I usually have my snare wires a TAD bit looser, but it,s kinda cool actually how tight you have them cause it sounds like a 909 snare pitch shifted like 9 wholesteps!

[@MustangFastback]

Love your style of play!

[@richardbailey511]

Great job Nick

[@terrydonegan1622]

Just been praying which kit I should buy for the worship group. Here it is!!

[@MathyuB.W.89]

Seriously, y’all need to make a band-led by Nick!!

[@EvilSewnit]

MathYu Uldyssian Check out Spocks Beard and Big Big Train!

[@isaacisback8786]

I personally would LOVE a little bit more of you playing on the soundtrack 'cause, frankly, I only watch these videos for that reason (and a bit for the gear, let's be honest).

[@venomagent76]

Dude... Your playing is superb

[@Artikulo71]

Gorgeous Drumset!🤘🥁

[@sparrovski]

Great but now tell what those cymbals are please.

[@tillgerke9481]

This kit is so nice. No way it is so cheap!

[@joshferry3628]

Nick I hope to be half as good as you on the drums and then I can die! Great video love watching you play!

[@oldowl4290]

Several years ago I took an old Ludwig marching snare and put floor tom legs on it for this exact purpose. I love this kit but would also hate loosing the deeper 14 x 12 floor because I agree that one like this should be on the left. Tama is also selling the 14 x 10 duo snare individually but it's ~$500 which is too much. If $350 they might sell a bunch. FYI, I'm also the admin for the FB Superstar page. I currently own 3 Supe kits including a custom bop kit with 20" bass.. this one though may have the be my 4th lol.

[@bryanherward4679]

Those snares are $300 now

[@Sniper28008]

That drum kit sounds great! I don't know what to buy either the this kit or tama starclassic performer BB. they are both excellent drums but I am leaning more towards BB kit. Thank you Nick for another great video.

[@erictorres4889]

You don’t have to buy high end to get a great drumset these days

[@koolBOY8323]

i think the addition of an 18x20 kick and a 13x6.5 snare to this line would be great.

[@SmangItDrums]

A 20" x 16" kick drum is available in the ML40HZBN2 pack. Snare isn't offered in this series, though.

[@johnmhearton3986]

Picked up a used 5 piece for $750.00, my go to Maple gigging kit

[@MattMendians]

I wonder if you could order it with double bass 24’ kicks? My cover shot is my 1985 Tama Super Star 24’ kicks but the toms were too deep for me. I use them all as floor toms! I bought used from someone I knew for $500.00!

[@drumfanatik316]

The duo snare is a great idea, but as a floor tom, it just doesn’t sound deep enough. In none of the demo videos I’ve seen, no one gets a really good FT sound. I’ve got a DW mini pro kit with a 13”x10” FT and the bottom end out of that thing is ridiculous!!! I think it had a lot to do with the shell construction? I just saw Tama is coming out with a 16”x10” version of the Duo Snare, for $500!!! 😱😱😱 I’d be interested in hearing how it sounds? Especially since it’s outfitted with the 16” version of the EMAD!!!

[@MNDrummer]

The toms seem a bit soft in this video but I have seen other videos where they are louder and have more of a bite. This could simply be how the sound is translating on this video. They certainly don't sound bad and everyone has a different opinion as well as different sound they are looking for.

[@coldrolled1]

As Nick states - he is using the stock heads. If you put some good 2 ply heads they'll warm up even more.

[@jakemaybrier9184]

I would crank that duo drum up high and use it as my main snare tbh.

[@johnanthonystahr4568]

I'm​ looking through your links but you don't have a link to what Meinl cymbals you are using on that kit

[@andycohen3384]

I m also try to figure it out what meinl cymbals????

[@anthonyn1312]

Is that big fat snare drum on the tom/snare drum?

[@Eli-fg8oh]

Got my eyes on the PDP Concept maple 6/7 piece.. But. The dealer also offers the TAMA superstar hype drive (not duo) 5 piece... Debating between the two. Would love to hear what you guys think about it.. Thanks 👍

[@Eli-fg8oh]

anyone? :-) nick D ?

[@TheHairmagic]

hi, i have got a hyperdrive maple superstar kit beside my starclassic set and i can tell you it is a really nice product. great finish (vintage blue metallic), great looking black nickel shell hardwares, and what is the most important, great sound! I use it with evans ec2 heads on top and g1 on bottom and emad2 on bass what is 22x20 sized killer sounding bass drum with microphone.

[@Eli-fg8oh]

vincze hair thanks for the reply. What's your take on the sound. Ive set on a 5 piece kit this week the the difference between the toms and the floor tom seems like there's a gap between them. Especially if its 10,12,16...the 16 hot oomph and a lot of low end, where the toms lacking it. I really dig the kit overall, hardware, stands, lugs, finish... But sound... 🙄

[@TheHairmagic]

you are correct, it's because those toms shallower and have shorter sounds then the regular sizes so i tune the 10-12 toms as low as i can. Maybe you should try a Starclassic birch/bubinga kit with deeper toms. Honestly i more prefer the 10-13-16 set-up than the 10-12.

[@Eli-fg8oh]

Thamks. thats why ive looked at the PDP concept. it has 7 pieces...toms are 8.10.12.14.16..so when in a fill you have so much more options, and its all pretty close sounding. the toms gradually going down in depth and oomph. maybe if i had the option for the 6 piece hyper drive...but sadly they dont have it in Israel.

[@glennedwardgo]

Is this available with the double tom holder mounted on the bass drum instead of hanging on stands?

[@MarcoPlaysDrums]

I would have bought a hyperdrive kit by now since I love short toms, but it's those long lugs that bother me

[@eddieavakian]

I love Tama but this kit sounds unusually quiet to me.

[@BY5461-k9i]

Do you tune that drum like a floor tom or snare??

[@austing.8870]

Yes

[@haroldcallejas22]

I think is half and half

[@JazzDunn1]

No you tune it like a snare,🙄,tune up the reso tight, and however you want with the batter head.

[@jeffballou2940]

not the best sounding kit you've demo'd, but great playing as always!

[@charliecorneloues7668]

I can't help but notice left tom clamp is upside-down

[@etiennelessard956]

what is the best kit? I hesitate between catalina maple or tama superstarhyperdrive maple.. which one do you advise me for a live house game..thank you

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for the question, Etienne. Not really a better/worse thing as much as different. The Hyperdrive kit is very unique with the shallow drums and the super unique floor tom/snare that comes with it. Really depends on what kind of sounds you are looking for and what kind of versatility. The shallow drums are a bit quicker in response and attack, but a bit less overall tone. Let me know if I can be of further assistance with this. Thanks! Derek Senestraro, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1243

[@etiennelessard956]

@@sweetwater Thanks for your quick response.. I play several types of music so I'm looking for a pretty versatile battery. I focus more on rock music, metal, punk and some blues. if you had to choose between tama superstar hyperdrive maple or superstar classic maple or catalina maple.thank you

[@juank1286]

I got one of these, but I need help with tuning? Can anyone share their tuning frequencies?

[@terrydonegan1622]

I want 1!!

[@gho5t504]

I wish they offered ordinary Hyper-drive with finishes like this. I'm not a "snom" fan at all.

[@kylemelcher894]

They’ve finally added a page for a snom-less configuration on TAMA’s website so we may see some kits out at retailers soon

[@damnyankeefl]

I want to hear Larry Mullen play pride on the snare/tom

[@francescosirio3399]

FKMG AWESOME!

[@88omarz]

didn't see cymbals?

[@The_Nightman_Knives]

Is it possible to custom order an 8” tom with this kit

[@sweetwater]

Hi, Tubby! Yes, Tama makes a 6" x 8" add-on tom for this kit (in addition to a number of other sizes). Thanks for your interest! Mike Wuchter, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1789

[@johnmitchell8254]

Yes I have it and its awesome and I also bought the 13 inch x 6 inch snare

[@renthal971]

good stuff

[@Imaddrums]

Is this kit good for rock/metal

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Imad! The Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive kit is an excellent choice for rock and metal music. The maple shells will have a huge sound, and the shallower depths allow them to be extremely responsive to faster playing styles. Thanks for your interest! Mike Wuchter, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone]

[@Imaddrums]

SweetwaterSound thank you for replying, so these will cut through ? Especially in a live setting?

[@paradigmshiftz7]

Imad Coulibaly it certainly does, whether you use clear or coated heads.

[@candelariocardenasjr]

@@Imaddrums Seriously??? It depends how you mix them with the mics

[@timvandervelden7939]

Not mine sound..

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

Nice song...!!!

[@litteratus5845]

insert a 14x12 snare drum is a influence of Anika Nilles contribution

[@kalinlee3792]

Honest. I prefer her with mapex. But yeah, tama does Great Stuff

[@oneleggreg2]

Wrong, they took the ideal from Sput who is the reason she came over to tama

[@hicksonstefon]

I'm really considering this kit. Does anyone know if the tom mounts and bracket come with the shell pack?

[@ekimnamtnuts]

Interesting idea on that 14x10, I went through multiple evolutions of snare tunings for the best recorded snare drum sound. I ended up slackening the batter head right off and recording with my snare sounding not dissimilar from this. I then discovered that one of my friends (who is a top music producer in the UK having worked with many major label artists) uses a slack batter head trick and has done so on several very successful records! Unfortunately, SSD5 has now blown the idea of recording live drums out of the window unless you just actually want to waste studio time. It's quite sad, I never thought I would programme drums but it's just so damn quick and sounds amazing. I can play everything live that I programme anyway so I don't see the problem. Funny how the digital revolution has affected everything, who could have foreseen it! It wouldn't stop me buying this kit though, Tama stuff is great, I have a Starclassic Maple and I love it. I'm buying one of these so I'm not lugging my rather expensive Japanese made lacquered Starclassic around to get chipped up and ruined. I'm liking the idea of going with a wrap finish rather than a lacquer as its more durable. When you look at the options at the price point of the Superstar range I think Superstar blows the competition away. Die cast hoops, a superb isolated tom mount system, long lugs (which I love and prefer over individual lugs) and the classy black nickel finish, and of course the quality maple shell, you just can't beat it. The Sonor AQ2 looks good too, the 22" bass drums in the AQ2 range come with 10 lugs which I prefer but the toms have standard pressed hoops and the mount system is nowhere near as impressive as the Tama. I have a Sonor Select Force jungle kit with an additional 8" tom so it's 8TT, 10TT, 14FT and 16BD and they sound incredible, I believe that these were made using shells that were the remnants of the Delight range unless I am mistaken so they were in effect really top range but mid priced kits. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a Superstar Maple for touring, 10 lugs on the bass drum would have been nice but still fine with 8 per side because I tune slack anyway. I always found tuning came naturally to me, it's all about feel rather than science, I've always felt you either have the intuition or you don't. I worked in music retail for many years so was messing around with kits from just about all manufacturers with different heads etc. There are a lot of new shell trends like birch/bubinga, beech, oak etc etc, never found anything that sand better than maple personally. Tama's super thin maple shells are awesome. Great video, enjoyed watching it.

[@scav3155]

Get over yourself

[@TheHasenbock]

To me these 10" Tom's upwards kits looking so smal, also so flat, imho. To my understanding sound need volume, if there is nothing, nothing can make sound or it sound smal. Like a church piano with very smal pipes instead of big ones. Ok u can make adjustments on record or sound system, but u cannot replace the original sound of the drum/Tom. Phil Collins had a flat snare back in 80th, think 3,5", but only for a short time...maybe he let it as 2. effect snare. Must have a good reason... 🤣 Or does the video cam change proportion that much so it is a 12"?🙃🤓

[@warrenoids]

Guys literally play rock'n roll with 8 inch toms. Drum diameter doesn't matter because you'd mic it up anyway.

[@Imaddrums]

That Benny Greb vibe 😏😍

[@markbrend182maam]

T♥A♥M♥A

[@joshraleigh6885]

22 kick?

[@nateiroli]

TheDrumDr 22x16

[@hansoloist9756]

I’m being honest, if all other drum companies die out...and Tama is all that’s left...we’re good. Tama is everything. Quality, sound, innovation, strongest and best hardware. Other companies are just fancy paint jobs and stupid looking lugs.

[@ryanwhite9471]

Just curious can you do custom colors with this drum set?

[@sweetwater]

Hey, Ryan. Thanks so much for your interest. Unfortunately, no. These colors are not customizable. I hope this helps. Best Regards, Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@coldrolled1]

They come in black with an orange stripe (looks awesome) red with white stripe, blue with a grey or white strip and ofcourse the silver (which I just purchased). They all look really good.

[@pianotoast]

They sound great but I can't get over how weird the super shallow toms look. Just looks super funny to me.

[@totigerus]

Me too

[@graviton9282]

I love em. I can’t stand deep toms. The positioning is much more natural. Of course these hyper-drive are extremely so... However he seems to be getting a big enough sound out of them.

[@totigerus]

Graviton 9 yeah. Big enough for funk/fusion. Those shallow ass Toms won’t stand up to 3 Marshall Stacks. That’s why I use a 12X10 and a 14X11 rack Toms. This is not a heavy rock kit by any stretch of the imagination. Just sayin!

[@graviton9282]

Totigerus That’s true...for live setup anyway.

[@matthewkramer8324]

I don't like the toms but the floor Tom/snare is innovative I'm almost sold.... But those rack toms....

[@artwis01]

What's the name of the lick / rudiment played at 2:53 on toms?

[@billmint8122]

Herta

[@artwis01]

@@billmint8122thanks!

[@SionedWillicombe]

Nick looks a bit like the guy who gets stoned over Monicas in friends

[@rustydrummer52]

song name??

[@jesseekkelboom4886]

What cymbals are you using?

[@coldrolled1]

He's using Meinl the Byzance line - they are killer!!!

[@erictorres4889]

These to me aren’t as good as the 7 piece superstars I just like more Tom choices

[@deesnuggets730]

I'm not liking this video if Nick isn't in it, fair warning

[@deesnuggets730]

Hell yeah

[@DrummerGrrrl]

Is it just me or does this kit sound choked with those drumheads? Nothing resonates to my ear.

[@sticktrik]

drums sound flat!!!

[@stevenfederico2594]

Never been a fan of tama. Not sure y

[@sanders6475]

He says the same things about all the sets he reviews...lol...I'm just saying... nice kit though...

[@heldtlouis2269]

This isn’t even a drum kit

[@joestarr05]

What are you talking about? A drum is a drum but together.

[@sandrider1406]

Only a Ludwig players would say that!